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Another member of staff said: "I think we are all willing to sit in all week."

One staff member has said that they are 'willing to sit in all week'

Staff at the Hinkley Point C development were expecting a working weekend where they were to receive time and a half and in some cases double time for working Saturday and Sunday.

"They're protesting because it's not their fault they couldn't work. Many of the men are relying on that money and a big number come from away to work here and they couldn't get home even if they wanted to because flight and buses were cancelled and roads were closed," said the carpenter, who asked to remain anonymous.

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It is reported that many of the people working at the building site are from areas across the UK including Plymouth, Yorkshire and as far afield as Scotland.

Travelling away from home to work at the nuclear facility, some of the men believe they are not being paid for what they signed up for and they are not happy about it.

A night-shift worker has claimed there was another sit-down protest over pay held last night, March 5.

He said: "Since I've started here my wages have dropped significantly. Given I came all the way from Scotland for this it is quite disheartening."

This latest reported refusal of weekend wages is said to be the last straw for many who claim they have been docked wages because of problems with unreliable transport.

Another worker, who spoke to Somerset Live, said: "This has been a long time coming. There have been other times when we’ve been late because the buses haven’t run properly. Yet they dock our wages for this even though it isn’t our fault.”

Strike action was averted back in October, 2017 after unions agreed an improved pay deal.

Artist's impression issued by EDF of plans for the new Hinkley Point C nuclear power station (Image: PA)

Some of the staff have called out management at the site during the protest whose attitude they are calling "disgusting".

One worker, who contacted Somerset Live said: "’m currently on the sit-in at Hinkley Point. The attitude of the management is quite disgusting, saying that we should just get on with the sit-in.

“They closed the site until today for adverse weather conditions and it’s there responsibility to get us to and from site in a safe manner.

“In all fairness, they did do this on Thursday but it was them who closed the site and asked us travelling men to remain in our digs until further notice.

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“Only then to be paid that they were not going to pay us. So we will sit here until we get what we deserve.”

Staff at the power station have contracts with the developers which they said should be honoured regardless of the weather.

At the moment, hundreds of workers are sat in the canteen and in and around the site refusing to work until a resolution over pay is made.

There are reports that union representatives are currently in talks with the developers EDF energy.

A spokesperson for EDF energy said: “The majority of the Hinkley Point C workforce are working as normal today. A smaller number of workers are disputing payments for bad weather and they are being encouraged to return to work.

"Employees who were unable to work at the site during recent bad weather will be paid in line with agreements signed with the trade unions.

"The safety of our workforce is paramount and a decision was made to close the site on Thursday ahead of the bad weather. Work was carried out over the weekend to ensure the site was available for a safe return to work today," they added.

"We are proud of the ‘best in class’ pay and conditions for the Hinkley Point C workforce. We have created great facilities, offer career development and have done this in a way that is affordable for the project.

"We share a commitment with the trade unions and our contractors to provide the best standards in health, safety and welfare, and the highest standards of quality and productivity, as we work together to deliver this vital project for the UK.”